Project Overview

It is reported that 27% of the total population in Syria are persons with disabilities (PWD’s), 13% of them are at the age of entering university.

As Shahed, a former UNDP project champion and a person with disability herself, says: 

“The internet is a place where we won’t feel judged. I believe the internet has set people with disabilities free by connecting us with each other on equal basis”

Access to technology is confirmed to be a powerful inclusive tool for persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities (PWD’s) in Syria often experienced “lockdown” during the exhausting nine years of protracted violent crisis even before COVID-19. We believe that access to the digital world provides PWD’s with opportunities to experience their true selves on equal basis with others and explore their new potentials.

In recent years and at the time of COVID-19 lockdown internet access has developed to be a basic requirement of modern everyday life rather than a luxury. The high cost of internet bundles creates a burden on the already exhausted financial resources. It has been very challenging for already marginalised persons with disabilities and students in particular, to keep-up with the need to access information and communication systems. In 2020, we project a very low rate of students with disabilities reporting to take the national high school exam with only 19 students being identified by UNDP so far.

UNDP Syria in partnership with PeaceLens will be addressing through this solidarity initiative the main challenges and difficulties faced by high school students with disabilities. Your contribution will grant them access to the Internet and learning materials that are very much needed during their pre-exam season. Based on the principle of leaving no one behind, the project will respond to the COVID-19 lockdown challenge faced by high school students with disabilities affecting their academic attainment and overall resilience through the following solutions:

• Provide access to information tools through internet data packages (30 Gigabits / month, up to 12 months) in addition to one IT gadget such as laptop, tablet or smartphone depending on the need and type of disability.
• Improve digital learning experience to enhance academic attainment during the lockdown through remote learning opportunities.
• Improve peer support and create a network of champions like Shahed.